IT was agonisingly anticipated that Russia would exercise its veto power over the establishment of a criminal tribunal into the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. It was a waste of time bringing up the issue to the United Nations. Justice delayed is justice denied.
There has always been a pattern by which UN decisions are met. The politics, national inclinations and beliefs of the five veto-wielding powers have always been at opposite poles, like the sun and the moon.
The United States, France and Britain on the one side with Russia and China on the other never seem to agree on resolutions. History seems to repeat itself.
The veto of the resolution on MH17 by Russia is the latest in a long string of spiteful vetoes. Russia has no reason for its veto other than for its self-preservation at the expense of justice for the murdered souls of MH17.
Similar evidence shows that Russia holds on to its tradition of zero accountability while camouflaging its actions with spurious propaganda. Russia also vetoed earlier resolutions to investigate MH17.
The Russian veto is a disgrace. It defies logic that a rogue nation can be given the status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is clear that the UN needs radical reform if it wants to remain as a credible and respected organisation.
UN was formed in the wake of World War 2 to settle disputes through negotiations instead of war, but the facts today reveal that it is nothing more than a white elephant.
After 70 years and hundreds of millions of dollars and time down the drain, UN appears to be on the same trajectory as its predecessor, the League of Nations.
UN should dissolve the Security Council and just make resolutions passable by a two-third majority vote of members to resolve conflicts.
DR A. SOORIAN Seremban, Negri Sembilan